A grand jury has indicted an Oklee man accused of killing his infant daughter.

John Russell Heden, 32, was indicted Monday on charges of first degree murder (felony murder, criminal sexual conduct), first degree murder (child abuse), and second degree murder (felony murder). The two charges of first degree murder carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment. The second degree murder charge has a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

Last week, a grand jury convened in the case. The grand jury heard evidence in Pennington County District Court and determined that probable cause existed to charge Heden.

Heden appeared in court Monday in handcuffs and shackles. Judge Dennis Murphy unsealed and read the indictments into the public record.

Kristin Hanson of the public defender's office is representing Heden. Hanson asked for and was granted a continuance of an omnibus hearing, a court procedure during which a judge considers many matters in a criminal case. Those issues include the legality of procedures followed in an arrest or prosecution. Hanson asked for the continuance until Heden can undergo a psychological examination. Heden is expected to have that examination this week. A date has not been set for the omnibus hearing.

If the case goes to trial, Assistant Pennington County Attorney Al Rogalla expected it would occur this summer at the earliest.

Heden was taken into custody March 1 and remains incarcerated at the Pennington County Jail. Bail remains set at $100,000 cash or $1 million surety. The criminal complaint alleges that Heden admitted to shaking his infant daughter and inappropriately touching her.

Heden was arrested after the Pennington County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from Heden's Highlanding Township residence. According to the department, Heden said his infant daughter had a bloody nose and was not breathing. Heden's 3-month-old daughter, Rose Marie Heden, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Heden has a 1997 conviction for third degree criminal sexual conduct in Goodridge. He was convicted of having sex with a juvenile female, who was between the ages of 13 and 16, according to Pennington County court documents. A stay of imposition was granted for that misdemeanor offense, and Heden served two years of supervised probation.

John Russell Heden will face charges of first-degree murder and criminal sexual conduct in the death of his 3-month-old daughter, a Minnesota grand jury decided Monday.

Heden was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and criminal sexual conduct, which, if found guilty, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without possibility of release; murder in the first degree and child abuse, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; and murder in the second degree, with a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Heden, 32, was arrested in early March after a 911 call brought Pennington County Sheriff's deputies to his rural home on the outskirts of Oklee, Minn. The call indicated that an infant was not breathing and was bleeding from the nose. The 3-month-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Heden initially was charged with first-degree sexual assault and second-degree murder. Those charges carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

Heden is being held without bail in the Pennington County Jail in Thief River Falls.

No hearing date has been set.

Nadeau is a general assignment reporter. Reach her at (701) 780-1157; (800) 477-6572, extension 157; or gfhcity@gfherald.com.